Child-Resistant Container for Housing a Blister Card

ABSTRACT

A container for permanently securing a blister card includes a top, a bottom, and a spine connecting by a hinge. The top and bottom each includes one half of a child-resistant latch system. The top having a latch with latch recesses and a pair of latch arms formed at a front edge of the top. The bottom having an identical arrangement with a latch with latch recesses and a pair of latch arms formed at the front edge. The latch recesses in the top latch align with the latch arms in the bottom, while the latch recesses in the bottom latch align with the latch arms in the top. The recesses in both latches secure the latch arms respectively and remain in a locked position until uses presses upon the upper surface of the latches and separates the top and bottom about the hinge.

This application claims priority from, and the benefit of U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/988,165, filed Nov. 15, 2007and entitled Container for Housing Medication, which is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to packaging suitable forstoring and dispensing medication and more specifically to containersthat house blister cards that provide a simple method for determiningwhether a dose has been taken while meeting child resistance standards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that medications, such as pills, tablets, and capsules,must be administered over a dosing period. In many circumstances, themedications can be harmful to children, so law-makers have passedregulations concerning child resistant packaging. The use of childresistant packaging is well known throughout the art, and has beenutilized for goods ranging from household items to pharmaceuticalproducts. The pharmaceutical industry has settled on two main methods ofdispensing medication, either loosely in a “amber” bottle or morediscretely in a blister card.

The traditional child-resistant “amber” bottle utilizes a “push andturn” cap by which the person wishing to open the bottle must press downto release a locking mechanism before turning the cap. These bottles areeffective for mass distribution of a medication, but have significantdrawbacks. First, “push and turn” cap's are often smaller in size, sothat they do not provide a sufficiently stable gripping surface to allowa user of limited dexterity, i.e. the elderly, to access the medicationin side easily. Secondly, the level of chemical stability of theindividual pills has been a serious concern. Pills that are dispensed intraditional “amber bottles” are often handled and put back into thebottle or, since the bottle is being constantly opened and closed,causing excessive contamination and moisture often enter the bottle. Forexample, hand moisture and body oils can significantly reduce theshelf-life and effectiveness of a medication. Finally, “amber bottles”provide no compliance feature that informs the user as to whether or nota dose has been taken during that dosing period, be it a morning,afternoon, day, or week.

The other well-known medication packaging is “unit dose” packaging orblister cards. Blister cards are typically formed from flexiblematerials with a plurality of cavities that receive and dispense onepill. An open side of each cavity is covered with a pierceable foilseal. The user simply pushes a selected pill through the foil seal inorder to remove the medication from its individual blister on the card.Blister card packaging ensures stability and allows for patientcompliance, although it often does not provide sufficient protection forthe medication or child resistance. The pierceable foil seal could bedifficult to pierce or remove without damaging the dose, so some blistercards are equipped with a tab the user can pull to remove the foil seal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a senior-friendly, child resistantmedication dispenser for containing a blister card that includes apermanently locking spine mechanism that secures a blister card insidethe container. The container having a two handed press and separatechild resistant feature wherein the user must simultaneously press atleast two buttons with enough force to bend the buttons as to releasethem from tabs holding the buttons in a locked position. Once thebuttons are depressed with sufficient force as to clear the locking armsthe buttons are then separated and the top and bottom of the containerare separated about a hinge.

The spine mechanism is integrated into the top of the container andseparates the top into multiple sections. The spine uses a hookimplement on its inner surface at the peripheral edge farthest from thehinge to snap and lock permanently onto a catch mechanism that is partof the bottom of the container. The catch mechanism is a stiff plasticsurface that includes a relatively deep ledge for the hook to bind upon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will bemore fully disclosed in, or rendered obvious by the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are to beconsidered together with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbersrefer to like parts, and further wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front top perspective view of a child resistant containerwith attached blister card with unattached spine mechanism in an openposition in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the child resistant container asshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the child resistant container withan attached spine mechanism in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front top perspective view of the child resistant containerin a closed position in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the child resistant container shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the child resistant container shownin FIG. 5, as taken along lines 100-100;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the child resistant container shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the child resistant container shownin FIG. 7, as taken along lines 200-200;

FIG. 9 is a front top perspective view of the child resistant containerin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a front top perspective view of the child resistant containershown in FIG. 8, in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This description of preferred embodiments is intended to be read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be consideredpart of the entire written description of this invention. The drawingfigures are not necessarily to scale and certain features of theinvention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematicform in the interest of clarity and conciseness. In the description,relative terms such as “horizontal,” “vertical,” “up,” “down,” “top” and“bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,”“downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to theorientation as then described or as shown in the drawing figure underdiscussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description andnormally are not intended to require a particular orientation. Termsincluding “inwardly” versus “outwardly,” “longitudinal” versus “lateral”and the like are to be interpreted relative to one another or relativeto an axis of elongation, or an axis or center of rotation, asappropriate. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, suchas “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship whereinstructures are secured or attached to one another either directly orindirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable orrigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly describedotherwise. The term “operatively connected” is such an attachment,coupling or connection that allows the pertinent structures to operateas intended by virtue of that relationship. In the claims,means-plus-function clauses, if used, are intended to cover thestructures described, suggested, or rendered obvious by the writtendescription or drawings for performing the recited function, includingnot only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, senior-friendly, child-resistant container 1that includes a top 2, a bottom 20, a hinge 18, a spine 40, and a latchsystem 50. More particularly, top 2 includes top wall 3, angled walls 8,sidewalls 6, curved corner walls 11 and 12, and curved walls 4 and 5.Angled walls 8 project downward and outwardly from angled edges 14 oftop wall 3. Sidewalls 6 project downward from side edge 13 of angledwalls 14 creating top rim 15 around the perimeter of top 2. Curved walls4 and 5 project outwards from rear edges 9 and 10 respectively of topwall 3 connecting to hinge 18. Curved corner walls 11 and 12 projectfrom the sidewalls 6 toward latch edge 7. Latch walls 67 and 68 projectdownward from top wall 3 at latch edge 7.

Bottom 20 includes bottom wall 21, angled walls 25, sidewalls 23, curvedwall 22, curved corner walls 27 and 28, spine catch 32, and supportwalls 36. Angled walls 25 projects both upwardly and outwardly fromangled edge 30 of bottom wall 21. Sidewalls 23 project upward from sideedge 29 of angled wall 25 forming bottom rim 31 about the perimeter ofbottom 20. Curved corner walls 27 and 28 project forward from sidewalls23 toward latch edge 24. Latch walls 69 and 70 project upward frombottom wall 21 at latch edge 24. Curved wall 22 projects upward frombottom wall 21 connecting to hinge 18 and to top 2. Top 2 and bottom 20open and close about hinge 18 wherein the top rim 15 and bottom rim 31created a closed seal of container 1.

Spine catch 32 including lower wall 35, horizontal wall 34 and upperwall 33 projects upward from the upper surface of bottom wall 21. Moreparticularly, lower wall 35 projects upward from the upper surface ofbottom wall 21 near latch edge 24. Horizontal wall 34 projects forwardtoward latch edge 24 and turns upward forming upper wall 33 creatingspine catch 32. Support walls 36 including a front end 37 and abutments38 project upward from the upper surface of bottom wall 21 and run thelength of bottom 20 from rear edge 26 to front end 37. Blister card 75having pill tabs 79 is set upon support walls 36 and pushed forwardagainst abutments 38.

Spine 40 including spine wall 42, rim 43, and rounded wall 44 rotatesabout hinge 41 clamping down upon the back surface of blister card 75.Rounded wall 44 extends downward from rim 43 of spine wall 42 connectedto container by via hinge 41. Ledge 45 projects from the inner surfaceof rounded wall 44 such that when spine 40 is in a clamped positionrounded wall 44 extends beyond the upper wall 33 of spine catch 32 andledge 45 bends the spine catch 32 inward. Once ledge 45 is loweredbeyond the height of upper wall 33, ledge 45 hooks into horizontal wall34 releasing the pressure off of the upper wall 33 and permanentlyattaching the spine 40 to spine catch 32 trapping blister card 75.Blister card 75 further including cavities 77 holding medication (notshown) cannot be removed from container 1.

Child-resistant latch system 50 including top latch 51 a, bottom latch51 b, top latch arms 61 a, and bottom latch arms 61 b seals the top 2and bottom 20 about hinge 18 until a user opens container 1. Top latch51 a including curved wall 52 a projecting downward from latch hinge 53a attached to top wall 3 at latch edge 7 and extending forward overfront wall 68. Lip 53 a bulges from the lower edge or curved wall 52 ato create an additional impediment for releasing child-resistant latchsystem 50. Lip wall 56 a and sidewall 57a project inward from the outersurface of curved wall 52 a to form latch recesses 55 a. Bottom latch 51b includes curved wall 52 b projecting upward from latch hinge 53 battached to bottom wall 21 at latch edge 24 and extending forward overfront wall 69. Lip 54 b bulges from the upper edge of curved wall 52 bto create an additional impediment to releasing child-resistant latchsystem 50. Lip wall 56 b and sidewall 57 b project inward from the outersurface of curved 52 b to form latch recesses 55 b.

Top latch arms 61 a includes two short walls 62 a projecting toward oneanother in front of front wall 67 in a mirrored relation, wherebycreating gap 65. Flanges 63 a project downward from the inner bottomedges of short walls 62 a. The short walls 62 a and flanges 63 a areformed to identically align with and fit perfectly within latch recesses55 b of bottom latch 51 b. Bottom latch arms 61 b includes two shortwalls 62 b projecting toward one another in front of front wall 69 in amirrored relation, whereby creating gap 66. Flanges 63 b project upwardfrom the inner upper edges of short walls 62 b. The short walls 62 b andflanges 63 b are formed to identically align with and fit perfectlywithin latch recesses 55 a of top latch 51 a

As a result of closing top 2 and bottom 20 about hinge 18, lip 54 amakes contact with flanges 63 b forcing the top latch 51 a toward bottomfront wall 70. Curved wall 52 a is pressed beneath bottom latch arms 61b until short walls 62 b and flanges 63 b enter into latch recesses 55 afitting over lip wall 56 a and within sidewall 57 a. Simultaneously, lip54 b makes contact with flanges 63 a forcing the bottom latch 51 btoward top front wall 67. Curved wall 52 b is pressed beneath top latcharms 61 a until short walls 62 a and flanges 63 aa enter into latchrecesses 5 b fitting over lip wall 56 b and within sidewall 57 b. Thecombination of top latch 51 a and bottom latch 51 b with top latch arms61 a and bottom latch arms 61 b create the child-resistance latch system50 of container 1. A user can release the child-resistant latch system50 by simultaneously pressing upon the curved surface 52 a of top latch51 a and curved surface 52 b of bottom latch 51 b. Latch hinges 53 a and53 b bend allowing top latch 51 a and bottom latch 51 b to lower towardfront walls 68 and 69 respectively. Latch recesses 55 a and 55 b releaselatch arms 61 a and 61 b allowing top latch 51 a and bottom latch 51 bto slide underneath the latch arms 61 a and 61 b. The user must thenretain pressure on both the top latch 51 a and bottom latch 51 b, whichpulling or pushing the top 2 and bottom 20 in opposite directions abouthinge 18.

Referring to FIGS. 9-10, another embodiment of child-resistant latchsystem 80 includes top latch 81 a, bottom latch 81 b, top latch arms 92a and bottom latch arms 92 b. Top latch 81 a including curved wall 82 aprojecting downward from latch hinge 83 a attached to top wall 3 atlatch edge 7 and extending forward over front wall 97. Lower wall 86 a,sidewalls 87 a, and nook 88 a project inward from the outer surface ofcurved wall 82 a to form latch recesses 85 a. Nook 88 a including backwall 89 a (not shown), front wall 90 a (not shown), and sidewalls 91 a(not shown) create a secondary area within latch recess 85 a. Bottomlatch 81 b includes curved wall 82 b projecting upward from latch hinge83 b attached to bottom wall 21 at latch edge 24 and extending forwardover front wall 102. Lower wall 86 b and sidewalls 87 b and nook 88 bproject inward from the outer surface of curved wall 82 b to form latchrecesses 85 b. Nook 88 b including back wall 89 b (not shown), frontwall 90 b (not shown), and sidewalls 91 b (not shown) create a secondaryarea within latch recess 85 b.

Top latch arms 92 a including hook walls 92 a project outward anddownward from latch edge 7 of top wall 3 creating gap 95 between ledge94 a formed at the distal edge of hook walls 93 a and front wall 97.Bottom latch arms 92 b including hook walls 92 b project outward andupward from latch edge 24 of bottom wall 21 creating gap 96 betweenledge 94 b formed at the distal edge of hook walls 93 b and front wall102.

Similarly, as a result as closing top 2 and bottom 20 about hinge 18,top latch 81 a lowers toward bottom latch arms 92 b causing bottom latcharms 92 b to enter into latch recesses 85 a entering between side walls87 a and making contact with lower wall 86 a. Ledges 94 b enter nooks 88a in top latch 81 a clamping itself on the front wall 90 a and holdingtop latch 81 a to bottom latch arms 92 b. At the same time, bottom latch81 b enters top latch arms 92 a causing bottom latch arms 92 a to enterinto latch recess 85 b entering between side walls 87 b and makingcontact with lower wall 86 b. Ledges 94 a enters nooks 88 b in bottomlatch 81 b clamping itself on the front wall 90 b and holding bottomlatch 81 b to top latch arms 92 a. Again, in order to open container 1,the user presses upon the curved walls 82 a and 82 b releasing latcharms 92 a and 92 b from nooks 88 a and 88 b. Then the user pulls apartthe top 2 from bottom 20 along hinge 18 simultaneously.

It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limitedto the particular constructions herein disclosed and shown in thedrawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within thescope of the claims.

1. A container for housing a blister card comprising: a top; a bottom;said top and bottom being connected about a hinge; a spine forpermanently securing a blister card; and a spine catch for permanentlysecuring said spine.
 2. The container for housing a blister cardaccording to claim 1, further including a child-resistant latch system.3. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 2,wherein said top having a lower surface further including a front andrear edge, sidewalls, and curved walls.
 4. The container for housing ablister card according to claim 3, wherein said bottom have an uppersurface further including a front and rear edge, sidewalls, and curvedwall.
 5. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 4,wherein said spine catch projects from said upper surface of saidbottom.
 6. The container for housing a blister card according to claim5, further comprising support walls projecting upward from said uppersurface of said bottom.
 7. The container for housing a blister cardaccording to claim 6, wherein said child-resistant latch system furthercomprising a top latch, a bottom latch, top latch arms and bottom latcharms.
 8. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 7,wherein said top latch further comprises a curved wall, lip, and latchrecesses.
 9. The container for housing a blister card according to claim8, further comprising a latch hinge connecting said top latch to saidtop via at said front edge.
 10. The container for housing a blister cardaccording to claim 9, wherein said top latch arms further comprise twoshort walls both having flanges.
 11. The container for housing a blistercard according to claim 10, wherein said bottom latch further comprisesa curved wall, lip, and latch recesses.
 12. The container for housingblister card according to claim 11, further comprising a latch hingeconnecting said bottom latch to said bottom at said front edge.
 13. Thecontainer for housing a blister card according to claim 12, wherein saidbottom latch arms further comprise two short walls both having flanges.14. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 13,wherein said latch recesses in said top latch secure said bottom latcharms and said latch recesses in said bottom latch secure said top latcharms sealing said top and said bottom in a sealed position.
 15. Achild-resistant container comprising: a top having sidewalls and acurved wall; a bottom having un upper surface, sidewalls and a curvedwall; said top being secured to said bottom by a hinge; a blister card;a spine attached to said bottom by a spine hinge; a pair of supportwalls rising from said upper surface of said bottom; a spine lockattached to said bottom for permanently attaching said spine; saidblister card being permanently held between said spine and said supportwalls; and a child-resistant latch system having a top latch, a bottomlatch, top latch arms and bottom latch arms.
 16. The child-resistantcontainer of claim 15, wherein said top latch further comprising latchrecesses.
 17. The child-resistant container of claim 16, wherein saidbottom latch further comprising latch recesses.
 18. The child-resistantcontainer of claim 17, wherein said top latch arms further comprising apair of short walls protruding toward one another each having a flange.19. The child-resistant container of claim 18, wherein said bottom latcharms further comprising a pair of short walls protruding toward oneanother each having a flange.
 20. The child-resistant container of claim19, wherein said latch recesses of said top latch complement and receivesaid bottom latch arms.
 21. The child-resistant container of claim 20,wherein said latch recesses of said bottom latch complement and receivesaid top latch arms.
 22. The child-resistant container of claim 21,wherein said latch recesses of said top latch simultaneously retain saidarms of said bottom latch arms as said latch recesses of said bottomlatch retain said arms of said top latch arms holding said top and saidbottom sealed.